Self-cleaning sink

Abstract

Systems, methods, and techniques for cleaning sinks and dishes are provided. In some embodiments, a cleaning system comprises at least one fluid supply, at least one opening in a side wall of a sink basin, and at least one nozzle positioned along an exterior of the sink basin. The nozzle is configured to receive fluid from the fluid supply, and dispense fluid through an opening in a side wall of the sink basin to an interior surface of the sink basin. In some embodiments, the nozzle is configured to dispense fluid to the interior of a sink basin, such that substantially all surfaces of the interior of the sink basin are covered with a thin layer of fluid. In some embodiments, nozzle dispensing angle, duration of a cleaning cycle, flow rate or amount of dispensing fluid, or activation of a cleaning cycle may be manually or automatically controlled.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A self-cleaning sink, comprising
 a sink basin comprising one or more walls; 
 a cleaing system comprising one or more nozzles disposed on one or more of the one or more walls; and 
 a lid configured to enclose the sink basin, 
 wherein 
 the one or more nozzles are configured to be fluidly connected to a cleaning solution source, to a water source, and to a steam source, and are configured to dispense a cleaning solution, water, and steam into an interior of the sink basin, 
 the cleaning system is configured to detect if the sink basin is enclosed by the lid, 
 the cleaning system is configured to automatically activate a cleaning cycle upon detecting the sink basin is enclosed by the lid, and 
 wherein the cleaning cycle comprises dispensing the cleaning solution onto the interior surface of the sink basin and allowing the cleaning solution to sit a predetermined amount of time. 
 
     
     
       2. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system is configured to prevent activation of the cleaning cycle if the sink basin is not enclosed by the lid. 
     
     
       3. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system is configured to detect the sink basin is enclosed by the lid with one or more of a mechanical engaging device, a magnetic engaging device, an optical signal, an ultrasound signal, or a capacitive signal. 
     
     
       4. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system comprises a microprocessor-based controller. 
     
     
       5. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more nozzles comprise a first nozzle disposed on a first wall of the sink and a second nozzle disposed on a second wall of the sink, the second wall being opposite the first wall. 
     
     
       6. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more nozzles are configured to dispense fluid substantially horizontally with sufficient pressure such that the fluid travels in an airborne stream across the sink basin. 
     
     
       7. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more nozzles are disposed at an upper edge of the sink basin such that fluid dispensed onto a sink wall at about a height of the one or more nozzles runs downward along the sink wall under gravity. 
     
     
       8. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system comprises a user input device configured to detect a user input and to responsively cause the one or more nozzles to dispense fluid. 
     
     
       9. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more nozzles are disposed in one or more insets in the wall of the sink such that they are configured to be hidden from view of a user of the sink. 
     
     
       10. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning system is configured to perform a drying cycle with air flow. 
     
     
       11. The sink of  claim 10 , wherein air flow is dispensed from nozzles so as to travel in a substantially horizontal direction. 
     
     
       12. The sink of  claim 1 , wherein, upon completion of the predetermined amount of time, the cleaning cycle comprises dispensing water onto the interior surface of the sink basin to wash away the cleaning solution. 
     
     
       13. The sink of  claim 1 , configured to automatically activate a steam-cleaning cycle upon detecting the sink basin is enclosed by the lid. 
     
     
       14. The sink of  claim 1 , configured to activate a rinsing cycle upon detecting motion or presence of an object in a detection region of a sensor.